James Hunt (left) and Niki Lauda (right) at Autodromo Nazionale Monza in 1976.

The Hunt–Lauda rivalry or Lauda–Hunt rivalry was a Formula 1 rivalry between British racing driver James Hunt and Austrian racing driver Niki Lauda that ran from the 1973 season until Hunt's retirement after the 1979 season.

Widely regarded as one of the most significant rivalries in Formula 1, the Lauda–Hunt rivalry is often compared to the later Prost–Senna rivalry for its impact on the sport and the rivals' contrasting personalities and driving styles.

Lauda, known for his meticulous and analytical approach, won the World Championship in 1975 and 1977 driving for Ferrari, notably in the Ferrari 312T.[1] Hunt, nicknamed "The Shunt" for his aggressive driving style and charismatic persona, secured the 1976 World Drivers' Championship in the McLaren M23.[2]

Their rivalry peaked in the 1976 Formula 1 season after Lauda’s near-fatal crash at the Nürburgring, during which he suffered severe burns and inhaled toxic fumes. Just six weeks after the accident, he made an astonishing comeback at the Italian Grand Prix, returning to the track with visible scars and a respirator and finishing fourth.[3]

While they were fierce competitors on the track, Hunt readily admitted that the two were good friends from their early days "gypsy(ing) around Europe together" in Formula Three, where they became "mates, not just casual acquaintances."[4] The enduring friendship between the two continued until Hunt's death in 1993.[5]

The 2013 biographical sports film Rush depicted their rivalry as more intense and occasionally nasty than it actually was, although it ended with a warm moment and Lauda's voiceover that Hunt was "among the very few I liked, and even fewer I respected."

Formula One World Championship

Driver Entries Championships Wins Pole positions Fastest laps Career points
Austria Niki Lauda 177 3 25 24 24 420.5
United Kingdom James Hunt 93 1 10 14 8 179

Head-to-head results

Driver Championship position Wins Podiums Championships
1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979
Austria Niki Lauda 18th
BRM 		4th
Ferrari 		1st
Ferrari 		2nd
Ferrari 		1st
Ferrari 		4th
Brabham 		14th
Brabham 		16 39 2
United Kingdom James Hunt 8th
Hesketh 		8th
Hesketh 		4th
Hesketh 		1st
McLaren 		5th
McLaren 		13th
McLaren 		NC
Wolf 		10 23 1

See also

References

  1. ^ Donaldson, Gerald. "Hall of Fame - the World Champions (Niki Lauda)". Formula 1.
  2. ^ Donaldson, Gerald. "Hall of Fame - the World Champions (James Hunt)". Formula 1.
  3. ^ "The Day a Legend Returned: How Niki's Triumphant F1 Comeback Unfolded". Mclaren. 18 October 2024.
  4. ^ von Tunzelmann, Alex (2013-09-18). "Rush: a thrilling but untrusty ride". The Guardian. Retrieved 2019-07-16.
  5. ^ Hey, Chrissy (2019-05-21). "Niki Lauda on Rush, James Hunt and the crash that changed his life". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 2019-07-16.
Allikas: Https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hunt%E2%80%93Lauda_rivalry
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